The Next Web : Last month, we reported how Windows XP had finally fallen below 40 percent market share. At the time, Windows 8 managed to grab 1 percent of the pie, and in December Microsoft’s newest OS progressed but did not double up. Nevertheless, Windows ended 2012 with a notable change: after six months of losing market share, Windows 7 and Windows 8 managed to give it a big enough boost to see a gain.
(Industry, Web, Windows 8)

Buy a Windows 8 laptop and install Windows 7 or try finding one with OpenSuse on it and install Windows 7. Most HP laptops in Pakistan come with OpenSuse, which is always replaced with a Windows OS when the customer buys it.

Oh, I understand there are probably work-arounds....... to either get Windows 7 on my machine, or to get a Windows 7 -like- experience when using Windows 8.

The problem of course is that I shouldn't NEED to jump through all kinds of hoops to get what I want, but MS was so stupid to release a far inferior OS (for desktop/laptop users) than what they had before.

So it's just a very frustrating prospect, imagining all the crap I would need to do before I simply get an OS that's performing how I want it (desktop-friendly).

I'm a graphic designer, and I can't bear the thought of having to cope with W8.

Why do you refuse to buy Windows 8? I have been running it on my 3 year old work laptop for a few months now and I have to say I will never look at going back to windows 7. The new start screen works well on a none touch screen as you just pin your own apps to it and you don't need to use the Market place if you don't like the new UI as every other app you have on your old pc will work fine on Windows 8.

I really don't get the hate for Windows 8 it offers everything 7 dose but also offers a touch side for going forward as we will now start to see a lot of laptops with touch screens and also a lot more windows tablets.

Windows 8 is the all in one OS unlike Android and IOS.

I do like all the people who keep saying Windows has had its day. Its far from it. MS dropped the Ball with Windows Vista, WIMO and Zune but looking at what MS are doing now with Windows 8 WP8 Xbox, Xbox Music ect the are looking like they could get back to number 1 again across the market and then Google and Apple will have a fight between them for 2nd place and then Apple or Google will bring something new and refreshing to the Market and Pip MS to number one again and the cycle will carry on as it dose in the IT industry as you cant be top all the time.

I'll admit I didn't like windows 8 at first but I really like it now. I missed the start menu at first but enjoy the new interface now. All your programs are there on startup and if you right click the bottom left corner it brings up everything else (control panel etc).